"The Bank is trying to kill me, but I will kill it!"-Andrew Jackson
Full name: Andrew Jackson Birth-Death Date: March 15, 1767 - June 8,1845 Political Party: Democratic Date/Number of Terms: 2 terms (1828-1832) (1833-1837) Vice President: John C. Calhoun (1828-1832)
Martin Van Buren (1833-1837)
Rating of President: Andrew Jackson receives a B+ for his presidency. There is no doubt arguing all the contributions he had enforced onto the developing country such as creating a stronger union, increasing the executive branch power, successfully handling the nullification crisis, along with many other actions that led the country toward a positive light. The only action that negatively blunted his presidency would be his cruel Indian removal act.
President Jackson's main purpose of his presidency was to encourage a strong union. He also wanted to administrate the politics of the "common man", revoke the bank charter, and strengthen the power of the executive branch. Jackson most defiantly enforced a strong union. Jackson attempted to include the entire country in his actions, rather than isolating one region over another. He had vetoed the Maysville Road Bill, because it would only benefit internal improvements for the state of Kentucky, rather than the entire country. Also, even though he was from the West, he passed the tariff which benefited the North. He realized he had to protect the citizens of the country. Jackson's presidency finally began the common man taking office, and leading the country, which proved the United States government, was indeed for the majority of the people. Jackson was also successful in abolishing the bank charter, which he did and upset some people. Lastly, Jackson increased the presidential power significantly. Before him, the presidents had done "their part" and played the role given to them. Jackson however, had contradicted Congress, which represented his power against them. He interpreted the Constitution himself, and saw to it that his decisions were carried out.
Andrew Jackson clearly did not get along with Congress, and had defied them many times. Jackson had vetoed the Congress' bills continuously, and was even the first president to introduce the pocket veto (indirectly vetoing a bill by not signing a bill within 10 days the Congress is in session). Some notable bills Andrew Jackson had vetoed include the bank charter, and the refusal to create internal improvements for Kentucky. He had a negative view on the legislature, and even attempted to increase the executive power to overrule Congress, which he had successfully done many times. This was interesting enough, since the majority of the legislative branch was in his political party. Andrew Jackson was determined to demonstrate the full power of the executive branch, and let the country aware the position should have equal stance with the legislature. This obviously led to many disagreements and tension in his relationship with Congress.
The worst action that Andrew Jackson and his administration had done would no doubt be the Indian Removal Act. After the Supreme Court had ruled that the Native Americans had the right to stay in their land, Jackson had bluntly ignored them, and continued to create shady treaties to displace the Native Americans. Congress had failed to stop him conducting this unconstitutional act because they had wanted to reap the benefits that would come from the Native American land. Jackson had justified his action because it was the good for the country. This was defiantly necessary and good for the development of the country, but it should not have happened. It went against the governments basic fundamentals, and poorly showed the attitude and respect of the United States. His actions led to the deaths of thousands innocent Native Americans, and one of the most disgraced actions of a president in history.
The best decision Andrew Jackson made was how he handled the nullification crisis. Andrew Jackson had the unpleasant duty to deal with the rebelling "Nullies" of South Carolina. They were revolting against the tariff that had been passed, and were refusing to follow it. Jackson had decided that every state had to follow the law, and no one was under it. He was prepared to send the army to force the nullies to pay the taxes. This was a dramatic action, but Jackson had shown the full extent of his executive power, while letting the rest of the country witness and is warned that the law must be followed. This demonstrated each state was equal, and that Jackson was prepared to do what was necessary to get the job done.
Andrew Jackson had many influential actions during his presidency. To begin with, he had created the spoils system. This prompted the presidents to appoint political positions based off the support given to the particular party. From that point, presidents began to favor their parties and the citizens of America were even more pressured to join a side. In Jackson's presidency, he replaced more than 10% of his administration. Also, President Jackson had increased the power of the executive branch. His presidency had taken the executive power (which was the weakest branch at the time) and transformed it into a powerful position. He interpreted the Constitution in his own eyes, and enforced the law himself while vetoing many of Congress' bills- prime examples would be the nullification crisis and the bank war. His Supreme Court appointment of Roger Taney replaced John Marshall as chief justice had made many historical events. President Jackson had also shaped his Democratic party profusely, and was considered the ideal Democratic (Jacksonian Democracy). His not so notable actions, such as the Indian Removal Act, had influenced the Trail of Tears and the unfair treatment of the Native Americans. Jackson's most influential action may have been the representation of the "common man" holding office, and the government became an institution to truly represent the people.
The country was most defiantly in a better state after Jackson's presidency. He handled the messy nullifications crisis quite well, and his actions were conducted to help the common good of the country. During his presidency two states were admitted into the union, Michigan and Arkansas. Jackson was able to pay off the national debt, and kept the country free of debt during his terms. This enabled him to have friendly foreign affairs with other nations, and created no harmful foreign enemies. The only factor that stunted his presidency was his decisions of the Indian Removal acts, and ignoring the Supreme Court ruling/Constitution. All in all, Andrew Jackson deserves a B+ for his outstanding presidency and the lasting impact he had left on the country.
"The Bank is trying to kill me, but I will kill it!" -Andrew Jackson
Full name: Andrew Jackson
Birth-Death Date: March 15, 1767 - June 8,1845
Political Party: Democratic
Date/Number of Terms: 2 terms (1828-1832) (1833-1837)
Vice President: John C. Calhoun (1828-1832)
Martin Van Buren (1833-1837)
Rating of President:
Andrew Jackson receives a B+ for his presidency. There is no doubt arguing all the contributions he had enforced onto the developing country such as creating a stronger union, increasing the executive branch power, successfully handling the nullification crisis, along with many other actions that led the country toward a positive light. The only action that negatively blunted his presidency would be his cruel Indian removal act.
President Jackson's main purpose of his presidency was to encourage a strong union. He also wanted to administrate the politics of the "common man", revoke the bank charter, and strengthen the power of the executive branch. Jackson most defiantly enforced a strong union. Jackson attempted to include the entire country in his actions, rather than isolating one region over another. He had vetoed the Maysville Road Bill, because it would only benefit internal improvements for the state of Kentucky, rather than the entire country. Also, even though he was from the West, he passed the tariff which benefited the North. He realized he had to protect the citizens of the country. Jackson's presidency finally began the common man taking office, and leading the country, which proved the United States government, was indeed for the majority of the people. Jackson was also successful in abolishing the bank charter, which he did and upset some people. Lastly, Jackson increased the presidential power significantly. Before him, the presidents had done "their part" and played the role given to them. Jackson however, had contradicted Congress, which represented his power against them. He interpreted the Constitution himself, and saw to it that his decisions were carried out.
Andrew Jackson clearly did not get along with Congress, and had defied them many times. Jackson had vetoed the Congress' bills continuously, and was even the first president to introduce the pocket veto (indirectly vetoing a bill by not signing a bill within 10 days the Congress is in session). Some notable bills Andrew Jackson had vetoed include the bank charter, and the refusal to create internal improvements for Kentucky. He had a negative view on the legislature, and even attempted to increase the executive power to overrule Congress, which he had successfully done many times. This was interesting enough, since the majority of the legislative branch was in his political party. Andrew Jackson was determined to demonstrate the full power of the executive branch, and let the country aware the position should have equal stance with the legislature. This obviously led to many disagreements and tension in his relationship with Congress.
The worst action that Andrew Jackson and his administration had done would no doubt be the Indian Removal Act. After the Supreme Court had ruled that the Native Americans had the right to stay in their land, Jackson had bluntly ignored them, and continued to create shady treaties to displace the Native Americans. Congress had failed to stop him conducting this unconstitutional act because they had wanted to reap the benefits that would come from the Native American land. Jackson had justified his action because it was the good for the country. This was defiantly necessary and good for the development of the country, but it should not have happened. It went against the governments basic fundamentals, and poorly showed the attitude and respect of the United States. His actions led to the deaths of thousands innocent Native Americans, and one of the most disgraced actions of a president in history.
The best decision Andrew Jackson made was how he handled the nullification crisis. Andrew Jackson had the unpleasant duty to deal with the rebelling "Nullies" of South Carolina. They were revolting against the tariff that had been passed, and were refusing to follow it. Jackson had decided that every state had to follow the law, and no one was under it. He was prepared to send the army to force the nullies to pay the taxes. This was a dramatic action, but Jackson had shown the full extent of his executive power, while letting the rest of the country witness and is warned that the law must be followed. This demonstrated each state was equal, and that Jackson was prepared to do what was necessary to get the job done.
Andrew Jackson had many influential actions during his presidency. To begin with, he had created the spoils system. This prompted the presidents to appoint political positions based off the support given to the particular party. From that point, presidents began to favor their parties and the citizens of America were even more pressured to join a side. In Jackson's presidency, he replaced more than 10% of his administration. Also, President Jackson had increased the power of the executive branch. His presidency had taken the executive power (which was the weakest branch at the time) and transformed it into a powerful position. He interpreted the Constitution in his own eyes, and enforced the law himself while vetoing many of Congress' bills- prime examples would be the nullification crisis and the bank war. His Supreme Court appointment of Roger Taney replaced John Marshall as chief justice had made many historical events. President Jackson had also shaped his Democratic party profusely, and was considered the ideal Democratic (Jacksonian Democracy). His not so notable actions, such as the Indian Removal Act, had influenced the Trail of Tears and the unfair treatment of the Native Americans. Jackson's most influential action may have been the representation of the "common man" holding office, and the government became an institution to truly represent the people.
The country was most defiantly in a better state after Jackson's presidency. He handled the messy nullifications crisis quite well, and his actions were conducted to help the common good of the country. During his presidency two states were admitted into the union, Michigan and Arkansas. Jackson was able to pay off the national debt, and kept the country free of debt during his terms. This enabled him to have friendly foreign affairs with other nations, and created no harmful foreign enemies. The only factor that stunted his presidency was his decisions of the Indian Removal acts, and ignoring the Supreme Court ruling/Constitution. All in all, Andrew Jackson deserves a B+ for his outstanding presidency and the lasting impact he had left on the country.
Bibliography:
"American President: Andrew Jackson." Miller Center of Public Affairs. Web. 12 Oct. 2009. http://millercenter.org/academic/americanpresident/jackson.
"The American President: "Expanding Power"" PBS. Web. 12 Oct. 2009. http://www.pbs.org/wnet/amerpres/main_episode09.html.
"Andrew Jackson." State Library of North Carolina. Web. 12 Oct. 2009. http://statelibrary.ncdcr.gov/nc/bio/public/jackson.htm.
The Complete Book of US Presidents. XII ed. Fort Lee, NJ: Barricade Books, 2009. Print.
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"President Andrew Jackson." American History and World History at Historycentral.com the largest and most complete history site on the web. Web. 12 Oct. 2009. http://www.historycentral.com/Bio/presidents/jackson.html.